Vehicle shift control level device

ABSTRACT

A vehicle shift control lever device may be provided that includes: a transmission rod; a detent pin which is disposed under the transmission rod in such a manner as to move in up-and-down and back-and-forth directions; and a groove member which has a groove formed therein which guides the detent pin. The groove member includes a first stable position “a” at which the detent pin is placed when a shift position is R, D, M or N-shift positions and a second stable position “b” at which the detent pin is placed when the shift position is a P-shift position.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Priority is claimed as a continuation to U.S. patent application Ser.No. 14/663,712, filed Mar. 20, 2015, which claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0032533, filed Mar.20, 2014. The disclosures of the aforementioned priority applicationsare incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle shift control lever device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a vehicle equipped with a transmission, a lever device is providedwhich is located beside a driver's seat of the vehicle and allows thedriver to select a shift mode. The lever device includes an electronicshift control lever device which electronically transmits an operationsignal of the lever to the transmission control device.

One of the conventional electronic shift control lever devices allows R,N and D shift positions to be selected by shifting the lever forward orbackward, and allows an M-shift position to be selected by moving thelever in the right or left direction.

In such an electronic shift control lever device, since a P-position isimmediately selected by pressing a separate button, the separate buttonmay be pressed by carelessness during the operation. Further, since theelectronic shift control lever device is implemented by software, itdoes not include a mechanically implemented shift lock device accordingto the shift position, so that the driver cannot feel safe during theoperation of the level.

Therefore, research is required to develop a vehicle shift control leverdevice capable of mechanically implementing a shift lock device of theshift position by no use of a separate button for selecting the P-shiftposition.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment is a vehicle shift control lever device that includes: atransmission rod 600; a detent pin 30 which is disposed under thetransmission rod in such a manner as to move in up-and-down andback-and-forth directions; and a groove member 40 which has a grooveformed therein which guides the detent pin 30. The groove member 40includes a first stable position “a” at which the detent pin 30 isplaced when a shift position is R, D, M or N-shift positions and asecond stable position “b” at which the detent pin 30 is placed when theshift position is a P-shift position.

The transmission rod 600 may include a shift direction rotation axis 610and a selecting direction rotation axis 620. The vehicle shift controllever device may further include a single sensor 73 which detects ashift direction pivoting or select direction pivoting of thetransmission rod.

The vehicle shift control lever device may further include: a housing10; a plate 300 including a third rear catching surface 352; and asecond fixing part 200 disposed within the housing 10. The second fixingpart 200 is caught by the third rear catching surface 352, so that thedetent pin 30 may be placed at the second stable position “b”.

The plate 300 may include a plate recess 350 on which the third rearcatching surface 352 is formed. The second fixing part 200 may include asecond fixing pin 210 of which one end is inserted into the plate recess350.

The vehicle shift control lever device may further include: a pressingportion 400; and a release button 500. The pressing portion 400 may movethe second fixing pin 210 by satisfying a predetermined condition or bypressing the release button 500.

The predetermined condition may be that brake and unlock buttons are inan on-state and a speed of the vehicle is a safe shift possible speed.

After the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted forward in astate where the transmission rod upper portion 670 of the transmissionrod 600 has been pivoted in the right direction, when the predeterminedcondition is not satisfied, the second fixing pin 210 is caught by thethird rear catching surface 352, so that the detent pin 30 may be placedat the second stable position “b”.

The predetermined condition may be that brake and unlock buttons are inan on-state and a speed of the vehicle may be a safe shift possiblespeed.

The vehicle shift control lever device may further include a display 90which displays a current shift position.

Another embodiment is a vehicle shift control lever device thatincludes: a housing 10; a transmission rod 600 including a firstcatching surface 650; and a first fixing part 100 disposed within thehousing 10. The first fixing part 100 is caught by the first catchingsurface 650.

The first catching surface 650 may include a front catching surface 651which restricts the forward pivoting of the transmission rod upperportion 670 of the transmission rod 600 and a first rear catchingsurface 652 which restricts the rearward pivoting of the transmissionrod upper portion 670 of the transmission rod 600.

The first catching surface 650 may include a left catching surface 653which restricts the left direction pivoting of the transmission rodupper portion 670 of the transmission rod 600.

The vehicle shift control lever device may further include a secondfixing part 200 disposed within the housing 10. The transmission rod 600may include a second catching surface 654. The second fixing part 200may be caught by the second catching surface 654.

The second catching surface 654 may restrict the right directionpivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670 of the transmissionrod 600.

The transmission rod 600 may further include a spindle bearing 640having a spindle bearing recess 642 formed therein. The first fixingpart 100 may include a first fixing pin 110 of which one end is insertedinto the spindle bearing recess 642, a first moving member 120 which isconnected to the other end of the first fixing pin 110, and a drivingmember 140 which moves the first moving member 120 in up-and-downdirections. The first catching surface 650 may be formed on thecircumference of the spindle bearing recess 642.

The first fixing part 100 may further include a hall sensor 150 whichdetects the position of the first moving member 120.

The vehicle shift control lever device may further include a display 90which displays a current shift position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle shift control lever device 1according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a right side view without external components for the purposeof showing an inner structure of the vehicle shift control lever device1 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side view without external components for the purposeof showing an inner structure of the vehicle shift control lever device1 shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear partial cross sectional view of a transmission rod 600,a detent pin 30 and a groove member 40 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the groove member 40 shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a right side view of the transmission rod 600 and the detentpin 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the transmission rod 600 and the detentpin 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 8 is a right side view of the transmission rod 600 shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a top view of a guide 60 and a single sensor 73 of the vehicleshift control lever device 1 according to the embodiment;

FIGS. 10a to 10c show a first fixing part 100 of the vehicle shiftcontrol lever device 1 according to the embodiment;

FIGS. 11a and 11b show an example for describing the operation of thefirst fixing part;

FIGS. 12a and 12b show another example for describing the operation ofthe first fixing part;

FIGS. 13 to 15 are rear cross sectional views of the transmission rod600 and a first fixing pin 110 shown in FIGS. 4 and 8;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views for describing a second fixing part 200 of thevehicle shift control lever device 1 according to the embodiment;

FIG. 18 is a left side view of a plate 300 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17;

FIGS. 19 to 21 are front views of the transmission rod 600 and a secondfixing pin 210 shown in FIGS. 7 and 17;

FIG. 22 is a right side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where the detent pin 30 is located at a first stable position“a” shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 23 is a right side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where a transmission rod upper portion 670 has been pivotedin the right direction;

FIG. 24 is a right side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where the detent pin 30 is located at a second stableposition “b” shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 25 is a left side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where the detent pin 30 is located at the first stableposition “a” shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 26 is a left side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where the transmission rod upper portion 670 has been pivotedin a right direction;

FIG. 27 is a left side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where the detent pin 30 is located at the second stableposition “b” shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 28 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at aP-shift position in accordance with a brake, an unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof;

FIG. 29 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at anR-shift position in accordance with the brake, the unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof;

FIGS. 30a and 30b are tables which shows that the position of the firstfixing pin 110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 aredetermined at an N-shift position in accordance with the brake, theunlock button and whether driving or not, and shows whether thetransmission rod 600 is pivotable or not in accordance with the pivotingdirection thereof;

FIG. 31 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at aD-shift position in accordance with the brake, the unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof; and

FIG. 32 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at anM-shift position in accordance with the brake, the unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the components of the presentinvention, detailed descriptions of what can be clearly understood andeasily carried into practice through a prior art by those skilled in theart will be omitted to avoid making the subject matter of the presentinvention unclear.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle shift control lever device 1according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rightside view without external components for the purpose of showing aninner structure of the vehicle shift control lever device 1 shown inFIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a left side view without external components for thepurpose of showing an inner structure of the vehicle shift control leverdevice 1 shown in FIG. 1.

Also, FIG. 4 is a rear partial cross sectional view of a transmissionrod 600, a detent pin 30 and a groove member 40 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.FIG. 5 is a top view of the groove member 40 shown in FIG. 4.

Also, FIG. 6 is a right side view of the transmission rod 600 and thedetent pin 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 7 is a left side view of thetransmission rod 600 and the detent pin 30 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.8 is a right side view of the transmission rod 600 shown in FIG. 6.Here, the external components may be a housing 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, the vehicle shift control lever device 1according to the embodiment includes the housing 10, the transmissionrod 600, the detent pin 30, and the groove member 40.

The housing 10 may receive the transmission rod 600, the detent pin 30,and the groove member 40, and may include a base bracket 11, a sidecover 70, and an upper cover 20.

The base bracket 11 allows the vehicle shift control lever device 1 tobe installed within the vehicle.

The side cover 70 is disposed on the base bracket 11. The side cover 70surrounds the sides of the transmission rod 600, the detent pin 30, andthe groove member 40.

The upper cover 20 is disposed on the side cover 70 and is formed toexpose a below-described transmission rod upper portion 670 to theoutside.

The transmission rod 600 may include a shift direction rotation axis610, a select direction rotation axis 620, an extension part 630, and aspindle bearing 640.

The transmission rod 600 functions to select a shift position. Thetransmission rod 600 may pivot within a certain range in a shiftdirection (forward and backward directions of the vehicle) about theshift direction rotation axis 610 or in a select direction (left andright directions of the vehicle) about the select direction rotationaxis 620.

The transmission rod 600 may include a transmission rod upper portion670 located on the shift direction rotation axis 610 or the selectdirection rotation axis 620, and a transmission rod lower portion 680located under the shift direction rotation axis 610 or the selectdirection rotation axis 620.

The transmission rod lower portion 680 may include the extension part630 which extends from the left side thereof. The extension part 630 maybe located within an opening 641 of the below-described spindle bearing640.

The transmission rod lower portion 680 may include the spindle bearing640. The opening 641 may be formed in the left side of the spindlebearing 640. A spindle bearing recess 642 may be formed in the rightside of the spindle bearing 640.

A first recess 661 into which a first fixing pin 110 of abelow-described first fixing part 100 is inserted and a first catchingsurface 650 by which the first fixing pin 110 of the first fixing part100 is caught may be formed on the right side of the transmission rodlower portion 680. The first recess 661 may be positioned to be exposedto the outside through the spindle bearing recess 642. The firstcatching surface 650 may include a front catching surface 651, a firstrear catching surface 652, and a left catching surface 653.

The first catching surface 650 may restrict the shift direction pivotingor select direction pivoting of the transmission rod 600 in accordancewith the first to sixth positions of the first fixing pin 110.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 8, the front catching surface 651 and thefirst rear catching surface 652 may be formed on the circumference ofthe spindle bearing recess 642 such that the shift direction pivoting ofthe transmission rod 600 is restricted in accordance with the first tosixth positions of the first fixing pin 110 of the below-described firstfixing part 100.

Also, the left catching surface 653 may be formed on the right side ofthe transmission rod lower portion 680 such that the select directionpivoting of the transmission rod 600 is restricted in accordance withthe first to sixth positions of the first fixing pin 110 of the firstfixing part 100.

A second recess 662 into which a second fixing pin 210 of abelow-described second fixing part 200 is inserted and a second catchingsurface 654 by which the second fixing pin 210 of the second fixing part200 is caught may be formed on the left side of the transmission rodlower portion 680.

The second catching surface 654 may restrict the select directionpivoting of the transmission rod 600 in accordance with the first tofourth positions of the second fixing pin 210.

The detent pin 30 is disposed under the transmission rod 600 in such amanner as to move in up-and-down and back-and-forth directions by adetent pin elastic member 35. The lower portion of the detent pin 30contacts the groove member 40 and is guided.

A groove which guides the detent pin 30 is formed on the top surface ofthe groove member 40. The groove guiding the detent pin 30 may have aconcave shape.

A first stable position “a” is formed in the center of the groove of thegroove member 40.

An inclined surface may be formed around the first stable position “a”.The detent pin elastic member 35 may allow the detent pin 30 to returnto the first stable position “a” along the inclined surface.

Also, a second stable position “b” formed on the left-rear of the firststable position “a” may be placed in the groove of the groove member 40.

FIG. 9 is a top view of a guide 60 and a single sensor 73 of the vehicleshift control lever device 1 according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 3, 7 and 9, the vehicle shift control lever device1 may further include the guide 60, a guide cover 65, and the singlesensor 73. The guide 60 may include a connection portion 61 and a mover63.

The connection portion 61 is disposed to surround the extension part 630formed on the transmission rod 600.

The guide 60 moves in interworking with the shift direction pivoting andselect direction pivoting of the transmission rod 600. Specifically, theguide 60 moves forward or backward in interworking with the shiftdirection pivoting of the transmission rod 600 and moves upward ordownward in interworking with the select direction pivoting of thetransmission rod 600.

The single sensor 73 which detects the movement of the mover 63 isinside the side cover 70 and is disposed in a position facing the mover63. Here, the guide 60 has a fixed directivity by the recess formed inthe guide cover 65. That is, the guide 60 moves in a fixed directionalong the path of the recess formed in the guide cover 65. Therefore,since the mover 63 moves in the fixed direction, the position of themover 63 can be easily detected by the single sensor 73.

The mover 63 may be a magnet or a conductor. Here, when the mover 63 isa magnet, the single sensor 73 may be a 2D hall sensor or a 3D hallsensor. Also, when the mover 63 is a conductor, the single sensor 73 maybe an inductive sensor.

Referring to FIG. 1, the vehicle shift control lever device 1 mayfurther include a display 90.

The display 90 displays a current shift position. The display 90 may beplaced on the outer surface of the vehicle shift control lever device 1so as to allow a driver to easily check the current shift position. Forexample, the display 90 may be placed on the outer surface of the uppercover 20 of the vehicle shift control lever device 1 and on the outersurface of the transmission rod upper portion 670.

The display 90 may display the current shift position in a visual waysuch as characters, colors or the like. For example, for the purpose ofallowing the driver to easily check the current shift position, thecurrent shift position can be displayed by using alphabets P, R, N, D,M, etc. Also, the current shift position can be displayed on a displaymeans like a liquid crystal by using a variety of colors. Specifically,the display 90 may display the P, R, N, D, M-shift positions by white,red, green, yellow, blue colors respectively.

Here, though it has been described that the display 90 displays in avisual way, there is no limit to this. The display 90 is able to displayin various known ways.

FIGS. 10a to 10c show the first fixing part 100 of the vehicle shiftcontrol lever device 1 according to the embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 6, 8, and 10 a to 10 c, the vehicle shift controllever device 1 according to the embodiment may further include the firstfixing part 100.

The first fixing part 100 may be installed in the housing 10. The firstfixing part 100 may include the first fixing pin 110 of which one end isinserted into the spindle bearing recess 642 formed in the spindlebearing 640, a first moving member 120 which is connected to the otherend of the first fixing pin 110 and has a recess 125 formed therein, aworm-shaft 130 which passes through the recess 125 of the first movingmember 120, a driving member 140 which rotates the worm-shaft 130, and ahall sensor 150 which detects the movement of the first moving member120.

Specifically, the first fixing pin 110 may be inserted into the spindlebearing recess 642 formed in the spindle bearing 640 and restrict theshift direction movement of the transmission rod 600 in accordance withthe shift position.

The first moving member 120 may be fixed and installed not to move inthe forward, backward, right, and left directions of the vehicle and tomove only in the upward and downward directions. Therefore, the firstfixing pin 110 connected to the first moving member 120 is also able tomove only in the upward and downward directions. Also, the first movingmember 120 may include a magnetic material. Specifically, the firstmoving member 120 may include a magnetic part 121 which has a magnetismand is disposed on one end thereof closer to the hall sensor 150.

The driving member 140 may rotate clockwise or counter-clockwise as theshift position is changed.

The worm-shaft 130 may convert the rotary motion of the driving member140 into a linear motion. Specifically, the worm-shaft 130 uses theclockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the driving member 140,thereby moving, as shown in FIG. 10 b, the first moving member 120 andthe first fixing pin 110 downward and thereby moving, as shown in FIG.10 c, the first moving member 120 and the first fixing pin 110 upward.

The hall sensor 150 may detect the position of the first moving member120 by using the magnetic field lines of the magnetic part 121 of thefirst moving member 120. Here, the magnetic field lines of a magnet havea property of establishing the equilibrium. Due to such a property ofthe magnetic field lines, the magnetic force of a side toward which themagnet moves becomes stronger, and the magnetic force of the other sidebecomes weaker. Accordingly, the magnetic field lines have a property ofmoving from the weaker magnetic force side to the stronger magneticforce side.

The hall sensor 150 measures the magnetic force by detecting a place towhich the magnetic field lines move, thereby confirming the position ofthe first moving member 120. Here, if the position of the first movingmember 120 detected by the hall sensor 150 is not a predeterminedposition, the position of the first moving member 120 is reset by usingthe driving member 140.

Hereafter, the operation of the first fixing part 100 will be described.

FIGS. 11a and 11b show an example for describing the operation of thefirst fixing part. FIGS. 12a and 12b show another example for describingthe operation of the first fixing part. Specifically, FIGS. 11 and 12are right side views of the transmission rod 600 shown in FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 11, and 12, the first fixing part 100 mayrestrict the shift direction pivoting of the transmission rod 600 inaccordance with the shift position.

As the transmission rod 600 is operated, the guide 60 moves and thesingle sensor 73 detects the movement and transmits information on theoperation of the transmission rod 600 to a main PCB. The main PCB whichhas received the operation information may set a new shift position byusing the previous shift position and the operation information. Afterthat, the driving member 140 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise inaccordance with the new shift position information that the main PCB hasreceived, and thus, moves the first fixing pin 110 to a positioncorresponding to the new shift position.

For example, when the current shift position is the R-shift position,the first fixing pin 110 restricts the transmission rod upper portion670 from pivoting forward about the shift direction rotation axis 610.Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 11b and 11 b, when the shift position ischanged to the R-shift position, the first fixing pin 110 of the firstfixing part 100 moves to the second position. When the first fixing pin110 moves to the second position, the front side of the first fixing pin110 contacts the front catching surface 651 of the spindle bearingrecess 642. Accordingly, the rearward pivoting of the transmission rodlower portion 680, in other words, the forward pivoting of thetransmission rod upper portion 670 is restricted, and the rearwardpivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670 is allowed, so thatthe shift position can be changed from the R-shift position to N-shiftposition.

Here, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the state where theshift position is the R-shift position, the first fixing pin 110 of thefirst fixing part 100 moves to a first position. When the first fixingpin 110 moves to the first position, the forward pivoting of thetransmission rod upper portion 670 is restricted, and more rearwardpivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670 is allowed than thatat the second position, so that the shift position can be changed fromthe R-shift position to D-shift position at a time. Therefore, only whenthe predetermined condition is satisfied, the shift position can bechanged from the R-shift position to D-shift position at a time.

Similarly, when the current shift position is the N-shift position, thefirst fixing pin 110 restricts the transmission rod upper portion 670from pivoting forward about the shift direction rotation axis 610.Specifically, when the shift position is changed to the N-shiftposition, the first fixing pin 110 of the first fixing part 100 moves tothe second position. When the first fixing pin 110 moves to the secondposition, the forward pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670is restricted, and thus, the shift position cannot be changed from theN-shift position to R-shift position, and the rearward pivoting of thetransmission rod upper portion 670 is allowed. Therefore, the shiftposition can be changed from the N-shift position to R-shift position.

Here, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the state where theshift position is the N-shift position, the first fixing pin 110 of thefirst fixing part 100 moves to the third position. When the first fixingpin 110 of the first fixing part 100 moves to the third position, boththe forward and rearward pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion670 are allowed, so that the shift position can be changed from theN-shift position to R-shift position or D-shift position. Therefore,only when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the shift positioncan be changed from the N-shift position to R-shift position.

The rearward pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670 isalways allowed at the N-shift position. However, when the shift positionis changed from the N-shift position to D-shift position in a statewhere the vehicle travels backward at a speed greater than abelow-described safe shift possible speed, it is impossible to safelychange the shift position. Therefore, when the vehicle travels backwardat a speed greater than the safe shift possible speed, it is possible toprevent the shift position from being changed from the N-shift positionto D-shift position by software even though the transmission rod upperportion 670 is pivoted rearward.

Also, when the current shift position is the D-shift position, the firstfixing pin 110 restricts the transmission rod upper portion 670 frompivoting rearward about the shift direction rotation axis 610.Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 12a and 12 b, when the shift position ischanged to the D-shift position, the first fixing pin 110 of the firstfixing part 100 moves to the fourth position. When the first fixing pin110 moves to the fourth position, the front side of the first fixing pin110 contacts the first rear catching surface 652 of the spindle bearingrecess 642. Accordingly, the forward pivoting of the transmission rodlower portion 680, in other words, the rearward pivoting of thetransmission rod upper portion 670 is restricted, and the forwardpivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670 is allowed, so thatthe shift position can be changed from the D-shift position to N-shiftposition.

Here, when a predetermined condition is satisfied in the state where theshift position is the D-shift position, the first fixing pin 110 of thefirst fixing part 100 moves to the fifth position. When the first fixingpin 110 moves to the fifth position, the rearward pivoting of thetransmission rod upper portion 670 is restricted, and more forwardpivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670 is allowed than thatat the fourth position, so that the shift position can be changed fromthe D-shift position to R-shift position at a time. Therefore, only whenthe predetermined condition is satisfied, the shift position can bechanged from the D-shift position to R-shift position at a time.

Also, for the purpose of changing the shift position to the P-shiftposition in the state where the shift position is the R, D or N-shiftposition, when the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted in aright direction in a state where a predetermined condition is satisfied,the first fixing pin 110 of the first fixing part 100 moves to the fifthposition. When the first fixing pin 110 moves to the fifth position, therearward pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670 isrestricted and the forward pivoting of the transmission rod upperportion 670 is allowed. Therefore, the shift position can be changed tothe P-shift position.

Also, when the shift position is changed to the M-shift position, thefirst fixing pin 110 of the first fixing part 100 moves to the sixthposition. When the first fixing pin 110 moves to the sixth position,both the forward and rearward pivoting of the transmission rod upperportion 670 are allowed and the shift position can be manually changedto an upper or lower position.

Here, the predetermined condition allows the shift position to bechanged to the R or P-shift position, changed from the R-shift positionto D-shift position, or changed from the D-shift position to R-shiftposition. In order to prevent the driver from unintentionally changingthe shift position and from changing the shift position during drivingat a high speed making it impossible to safely change the shift positionand in order to enable the driver to intentionally change the shiftposition and to change the shift position only during driving at a speedmaking it possible to safely change the shift position, thepredetermined condition may be that brake and unlock buttons are in anon-state and the speed of the vehicle is the safe shift possible speed.The safe shift possible speed means a speed allowing the driver tosafely change the shift position when the vehicle is in a stationarystate or is driven at a very low speed. The safe shift possible speedmay be less than 6 km/h, including the forward and backward driving ofthe vehicle.

FIGS. 13 to 15 are rear cross sectional views of the transmission rod600 and the first fixing pin 110 shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. Specifically,FIG. 13 shows that the first fixing pin 110 is located at the thirdposition. FIG. 14 shows that the first fixing pin 110 is located at thefourth position. FIG. 15 shows that the transmission rod upper portion670 of FIG. 14 has been pivoted in the left direction.

The first fixing part 100 may restrict the select direction pivoting ofthe transmission rod 600 in accordance with the shift position. Forexample, when the shift position is changed to the R or D-shiftposition, the first fixing pin 110 of the first fixing part 100 moves toone of the first to third positions, so that the first fixing part 100restricts the left direction pivoting of the transmission rod upperportion 670.

Meanwhile, the first fixing part 100 may allow the transmission rod 600to pivot in the select direction in accordance with the shift position.For example, when the shift position is changed to the D or M-shiftposition, the first fixing pin 110 of the first fixing part 100 moves tothe fourth to sixth positions, so that the transmission rod upperportion 670 may be pivoted in the left direction.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 13, when the first fixing pin 110 islocated at the third position, the end of the first fixing pin 110 iscaught by the left catching surface 653 of the transmission rod 600, sothat the first fixing part 100 is able to restrict the left directionpivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670. Similarly, when thefirst fixing pin 110 is located at the first or second position, the endof the first fixing pin 110 is caught by the left catching surface 653of the transmission rod 600, so that the first fixing part 100 is ableto restrict the left direction pivoting of the transmission rod upperportion 670. As a result, the shift position cannot be changed from theR or N-shift position to M-shift position.

Meanwhile, when the first fixing pin 110 is located at the fourthposition as shown in FIG. 14, even if the transmission rod upper portion670 is pivoted in the left direction as shown in FIG. 15, the end of thefirst fixing pin 110 is not caught by the left catching surface 653 ofthe transmission rod 600 and is inserted into the first recess 661.Therefore, the transmission rod upper portion 670 can be pivoted in theleft direction. Likewise, when the first fixing pin 110 is located atthe fifth or sixth position, the end of the first fixing pin 110 is notcaught by the left catching surface 653 of the transmission rod 600 andis inserted into the first recess 661. Therefore, the transmission rodupper portion 670 can be pivoted in the left direction, so that theshift position can be changed from the D-shift position to M-shiftposition or from the M-shift position to D-shift position.

FIGS. 16 and 17 are views for describing the second fixing part 200 ofthe vehicle shift control lever device 1 according to the embodiment.FIG. 18 is a left side view of a plate 300 shown in FIGS. 16 and 17.

Referring to FIGS. 16 to 18, the vehicle shift control lever device 1according to the embodiment may further include the second fixing part200, the plate 300, and a pressing portion 400.

The plate 300 may include a plate recess 350 formed on one side thereof.

As shown in FIG. 18, the plate recess 350 may be formed such that thesecond fixing pin 210 of the second fixing part 200 moves to the firstto fourth positions. Specifically, the first position is the top rightof the plate recess 350 where the second fixing pin 210 is placed. Thesecond position is the bottom right of the plate recess 350 where thesecond fixing pin 210 is placed. The third position is the bottom leftof the plate recess 350 where the second fixing pin 210 is placed. Thefourth position is the top left of the plate recess 350 where the secondfixing pin 210 is placed.

A second rear catching surface 351 and a third rear catching surface 352may be formed on the circumference of the plate recess 350 such that theshift direction pivoting of the transmission rod 600 is restricted inaccordance with the first to fourth positions of the second fixing pin210 of the second fixing part 200.

The second fixing part 200 may include the second fixing pin 210 ofwhich one end is inserted into the plate recess 350 formed in the plate300, a second moving member 220 which is connected to the other end ofthe second fixing pin 210, a fixing member 230 which is disposed at thebase bracket 11 and is separated from the second moving member 220 by apredetermined distance, and an elastic member 240 which is disposedbetween the second moving member 220 and the fixing member 230.

The second moving member 220 may be fixed and installed not to move inthe forward, backward, right, and left directions of the vehicle and tomove only in the upward and downward directions. Therefore, the secondfixing pin 210 connected to the second moving member 220 is also able tomove only in the upward and downward directions.

The second moving member 220 moves in a direction closer to the fixingmember 230 by the pressing portion 400. Here, when the predeterminedcondition is satisfied, the pressing portion 400 is pivoted downwardlyand presses the second moving member 220 downwardly, so that the secondmoving member 220 becomes closer to the fixing member 230. Therefore,the second fixing pin 210 is moved by the pressing portion 400. Here, ifthe predetermined condition is not satisfied, the pressing portion 400is pivoted upwardly and the second fixing pin 210 is moved to itsoriginal position by the elastic member 240.

FIGS. 19 to 21 are front views of the transmission rod 600 and thesecond fixing pin 210 shown in FIGS. 7 and 17. Specifically, FIG. 19shows that the second fixing pin 210 is located at the first position ofthe plate recess 350. FIG. 20 shows that the second fixing pin 210 islocated at the second position of the plate recess 350. FIG. 21 showsthat the transmission rod upper portion 670 of FIG. 20 has been pivotedin the right direction.

The second fixing part 200 may restrict the select direction pivoting ofthe transmission rod 600. Specifically, when the predetermined conditionis not satisfied, the second fixing part 200 places the second fixingpin 210 on the first position, thereby restricting the transmission rodupper portion 670 from being pivoted in the right direction.

Meanwhile, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the secondfixing part 200 places the second fixing pin 210 on the second position,thereby allowing the transmission rod upper portion 670 to be pivoted inthe right direction.

For example, as shown in FIG. 19, when the second fixing pin 210 is atthe first position, the end of the second fixing pin 210 is caught bythe second catching surface 654 of the transmission rod 600.Accordingly, the second fixing part 200 may restrict the right directionpivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670.

Meanwhile, when the second fixing pin 210 is at the second position asshown in FIG. 20, even if the transmission rod upper portion 670 ispivoted in the right direction as shown in FIG. 21, the end of thesecond fixing pin 210 is not caught by the second catching surface 654of the transmission rod 600 and is inserted into the second recess 662.Therefore, the transmission rod upper portion 670 can be pivoted in theright direction.

Here, when the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted in theright direction, the transmission rod lower portion 680 is inserted intothe plate 300. Then, as the transmission rod 600 is pivoted in the shiftdirection, the plate 300 is pivoted in the shift direction ininterworking with the transmission rod 600. In a state where thetransmission rod upper portion 670 is not pivoted in the rightdirection, the transmission rod lower portion 680 is not inserted intothe plate 300. Therefore, even if the transmission rod 600 is pivoted inthe shift direction, the plate 300 does not interwork with thetransmission rod 600, and thus, is not pivoted in the shift direction.

Hereafter, an example of changing the shift position to the P-shiftposition will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 22 to 27.

FIG. 22 is a right side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where the detent pin 30 is located at the first stableposition “a” shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 23 is a right side view of thevehicle shift control lever device 1 in a state where the transmissionrod upper portion 670 has been pivoted in the right direction. FIG. 24is a right side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1 in astate where the detent pin 30 is located at the second stable position“b” shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 25 is a left side view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1in a state where the detent pin 30 is located at the first stableposition “a” shown in FIG. 5. FIG. 26 is a left side view of the vehicleshift control lever device 1 in a state where the transmission rod upperportion 670 has been pivoted in a right direction. FIG. 27 is a leftside view of the vehicle shift control lever device 1 in a state wherethe detent pin 30 is located at the second stable position “b” shown inFIG. 5.

Referring to FIGS. 22 and 25, when the shift position is R, N, M orD-shift position, the detent pin 30 is placed at the first stableposition “a” shown in FIG. 5 and the second fixing pin 210 of the secondfixing part 200 is placed at the first position.

Here, the rear side of the second fixing pin 210 of the second fixingpart 200 becomes in contact with the second rear catching surface 351 ofthe plate recess 350. However, in the state where the transmission rodupper portion 670 is not pivoted in the right direction, thetransmission rod lower portion 680 is not inserted into the plate 300.Therefore, even if the transmission rod 600 is pivoted in the shiftdirection, the plate 300 does not interwork with the transmission rod600, and thus, is not pivoted in the shift direction. Accordingly, theshift direction pivoting of the transmission rod 600 is not restrictedby the second moving member 220.

In this state, though the transmission rod 600 is pivoted in the shiftdirection or in the select direction, the detent pin elastic member 35may allow the detent pin 30 to return to the first stable position “a”along the inclined surface formed around the first stable position “a”.

When the predetermined condition is satisfied so as to change the shiftposition to the P-shift position in this state, the second fixing pin210 of the second fixing part 200 moves to the second position as shownin FIG. 26. When the second fixing pin 210 of the second fixing part 200moves to the second position, the rear side of the second fixing pin 210becomes in contact with the second rear catching surface 351 of theplate recess 350. In this state, when the transmission rod upper portion670 is pivoted in the right direction, the first fixing pin 110 of thefirst fixing part 100 moves to the fifth position as shown in FIG. 23.Also, when the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted in theright direction, the transmission rod lower portion 680 is inserted intothe plate 300 and the transmission rod 600 is pivoted in the shiftdirection. Therefore, since the plate 300 is, as shown in FIG. 26,pivoted in the shift direction in interworking with the transmission rod600, the forward pivoting of the transmission rod lower portion 680, inother words, the rearward pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion670 is restricted, and the forward pivoting of the transmission rodupper portion 670 is allowed, so that the shift position can be changedto the P-shift position.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 24, when the transmission rod upperportion 670 is pivoted forward, the plate 300 is pivoted rearward ininterworking with the pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion670, so that the second fixing pin 210 of the second fixing part 200 isplaced at the third position. In the state where the second fixing pin210 is located at the third position, when the predetermined conditionis not satisfied, the second fixing pin 210 of the second fixing part200 moves to the fourth position as shown in FIG. 27. When the secondfixing pin 210 of the second fixing part 200 is located at the fourthposition, the rear side of the second fixing pin 210 becomes in contactwith the third rear catching surface 352. Since the plate 300, togetherwith the transmission rod 600, is pivoted in the shift direction, theforward pivoting of the transmission rod lower portion 680, in otherwords, the rearward pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion 670is restricted. Also, the detent pin 30 is placed at the second stableposition “b” shown in FIG. 5. In this state, since the rearward pivotingof the transmission rod upper portion 670 is restricted by the secondfixing pin 210 of the second fixing part 200 and the third rear catchingsurface 352 of the plate recess 350, the detent pin 30 is fixed to thesecond stable position “b”. Accordingly, the vehicle shift control leverdevice 1 completes the change of the shift position to the P-shiftposition.

Subsequently, in order to change the P-shift position to another shiftposition, when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the secondfixing pin 210 of the second fixing part 200 moves to the thirdposition. When the second fixing pin 210 moves to the third position,the second fixing pin 210 does not contact the third rear catchingsurface 352 at the third position. Therefore, the transmission rod upperportion 670 can be pivoted rearward. When the transmission rod upperportion 670 is pivoted rearward, the plate 300 is pivoted forward ininterworking with the pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion670, and thus, the second fixing pin 210 of the second fixing part 200is placed at the second position. When the second fixing pin 210 of thesecond fixing part 200 is located at the second position, the detent pinelastic member 35 allows the detent pin 30 to return to the first stableposition “a” along the inclined surface formed on the groove member 40.As a result, the shift position can be changed from the P-shift positionto another shift position even if the transmission rod upper portion 670is not pivoted in the left direction.

Also, referring to FIG. 3, the vehicle shift control lever device 1according to the embodiment may further include a release button 500.

One end of the release button 500 is disposed on the outer surface ofthe vehicle shift control lever device 1, and the other end of therelease button 500 is disposed on the pressing portion 400. Here, whenthe end of the release button 500 is pressed downwardly, the releasebutton 500 is moved downwardly, and the other end of the release button500 is pivoted downwardly.

When it is not possible to determine whether the predetermined conditionis satisfied or not due to the battery discharge of the vehicle or theoccurrence of the problems of other electronic control units, the shiftposition may not be changed from the P-shift position to another shiftposition. In this case, even if the predetermined condition is notsatisfied, the pressing portion 400 is mechanically pivoted downwardlyby using the release button 500, so that the shift position can bechanged from the P-shift position to another shift position.

FIG. 28 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at theP-shift position in accordance with the brake, the unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof;

FIG. 29 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at theR-shift position in accordance with the brake, the unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof;

FIGS. 30a and 30b are tables which shows that the position of the firstfixing pin 110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 aredetermined at the N-shift position in accordance with the brake, theunlock button and whether driving or not, and shows whether thetransmission rod 600 is pivotable or not in accordance with the pivotingdirection thereof;

FIG. 31 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at theD-shift position in accordance with the brake, the unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof.

FIG. 32 is a table which shows that the position of the first fixing pin110 and the position of the second fixing pin 210 are determined at theM-shift position in accordance with the brake, the unlock button andwhether driving or not, and shows whether the transmission rod 600 ispivotable or not in accordance with the pivoting direction thereof.

Specifically, “̂” shown in FIGS. 28 to 32 means that the transmission rodupper portion 670 is pivoted one step forward.

“̂̂” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted twosteps forward.

“

” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted one steprearward.

“

” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted two stepsrearward.

“<” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted in theleft direction.

“>” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted in theright direction.

“> {circle around ( )}” means that the transmission rod upper portion670 is pivoted in the right direction and then is pivoted one stepforward.

“

<” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted one steprearward and then is pivoted in the left direction.

“

< {circle around ( )}” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670is pivoted one step rearward and is pivoted in the left direction andthen is pivoted one step forward.

“

{circle around ( )} {circle around ( )}” means that the transmission rodupper portion 670 is pivoted one step rearward and is pivoted in theleft direction and then is pivoted two steps forward.

“

<

” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted one steprearward and is pivoted in the left direction and then is pivoted onestep rearward.

“

<

” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted ispivoted one step rearward and is pivoted in the left direction and thenis pivoted two steps rearward.

“

< <” means that the transmission rod upper portion 670 is pivoted onestep rearward and is pivoted in the left direction and then is pivotedone step in the left direction.

The vehicle shift control lever device 1 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention changes, as shown in FIGS. 28 to 32, the positionof the first fixing pin 110 and the position of the second fixing pin210 in accordance with the brake, the unlock button and whether drivingor not in order to restrict the pivoting direction of the transmissionrod 600 at each shift position.

The features, structures and effects and the like described in theembodiments are included in at least one embodiment of the presentinvention and are not necessarily limited to one embodiment.Furthermore, the features, structures, effects and the like provided ineach embodiment can be combined or modified in other embodiments bythose skilled in the art to which the embodiments belong. Therefore,contents related to the combination and modification should be construedto be included in the scope of the present invention.

Although the embodiments of the present invention were described above,these are just examples and do not limit the present invention. Further,the present invention may be changed and modified in various ways,without departing from the essential features of the present invention,by those skilled in the art. That is, the components described in detailin the embodiments of the present invention may be modified. Further,differences due to the modification and application should be construedas being included in the scope and spirit of the present invention,which is described in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vehicle shift control lever device comprising:a housing; a transmission rod comprising a first catching surface; and afirst fixing part disposed within the housing, wherein the first fixingpart is caught by the first catching surface.
 2. The vehicle shiftcontrol lever device of claim 1, wherein the first catching surfacecomprises a front catching surface which restricts the forward pivotingof the transmission rod upper portion of the transmission rod and afirst rear catching surface which restricts the rearward pivoting of thetransmission rod upper portion of the transmission rod.
 3. The vehicleshift control lever device of claim 1, wherein the first catchingsurface comprises a left catching surface which restricts the leftdirection pivoting of the transmission rod upper portion of thetransmission rod.
 4. The vehicle shift control lever device of claim 1,further comprising a second fixing part disposed within the housing,wherein the transmission rod comprises a second catching surface, andwherein the second fixing part is caught by the second catching surface.5. The vehicle shift control lever device of claim 4, wherein the secondcatching surface restricts the right direction pivoting of thetransmission rod upper portion of the transmission rod.
 6. The vehicleshift control lever device of claim 1, wherein the transmission rodfurther comprises a spindle bearing having a spindle bearing recessformed therein, wherein the first fixing part comprises a first fixingpin of which one end is inserted into the spindle bearing recess, afirst moving member which is connected to the other end of the firstfixing pin, and a driving member which moves the first moving member inup-and-down directions, and wherein the first catching surface is formedon the circumference of the spindle bearing recess.
 7. The vehicle shiftcontrol lever device of claim 6, wherein the first fixing part furthercomprises a hall sensor which detects the position of the first movingmember.
 8. The vehicle shift control lever device of claim 1, furthercomprising a display which displays a current shift position.